Fire fighting tool



an 9, 1934. c. H. RICH 1,942,901

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J0 im Jan. 9, 1934. c. H. RICH y 1,942,901

FIRE FIGHTING TOOL Filed Sept, ll, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 26 Q7 .96 3 Hummml Patented Jan. 9, 1934 FIRE FIGHTING TOOL Charles H. Rich, Woolrich, Pa.

Application September 11, 1931 Serial No. 562,352

6 Claims.

This invention relates to tools, and its general object is to provide a tool primarily designed for use in righting brush and forest fires or the like in a manner whereby trenches and the like can be '5 easily and quickly made, brush, leaves and the like can be expeditiously cleared away in advance of the fire, and spreading ground fire can be controlled with Very little effort.

A very important object of the present invention is to provide in my fire fighting tool a scraping blade designed for scraping spreading re back into the burning mass so that the fire can be readily held under control as well as to clean any unburned or inflammable material that may lay on the ground away from the oncoming `fire.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool of the character set forth, that is not only capable of performing all the necessary functions in righting ground fire or the like, but is strong and rigid in construction so as to withstand much abuse without fear of breakage or displacement of the various parts thereof, which is extremely essential in a tool of this kind.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tool for use in fighting iires, that is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and extremely efficient in operation and service.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parte, to be here inafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure l is a front elevation of one form of my tool which constitutes the subject matter of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a perspective View of the scraper blade.

Figure 4 is a similar View of the bar which carries the cutting blades.

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken approximately on line 5-5 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is-an end View of the form so far described.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary View of the handle socket as well as the bar carrying clamp which 55` is formed therewith.

Figure 8 is a View taken at right angles to Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a front elevation of a modified form of my invention.

Figure l0 is a rear elevation thereof.

Figure l1 is an end View of the modified form.

Figure l2 is a fragmentary View showing a modified form of body and with the meeting portions cf the cutting edges of the blades arranged in alignment with the edge of the lower portion 65 of the body, the lower portion being beveled.

Figure 13 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 13--13 of Figure 12.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the refer ence numeral 1 indicates the body of my tool of 70 the form thereof as shown in Figures l to 8 inclusive and the body is of angle formation to provide an upper portion 2 and a lower portion 3, the latter being disposed at right angles with respect to the upper portion asbest shown in Figure 4. The lowerportion is formed with spaced V-shaped notches 4 and secured to the lower portion with their confronting edges engaging in a line with the apex of the V-shape notches are a plurality of cutting blades 5, which have their outer edges straight but beveled and the blades are also provided with inclined edges which are likewise beveled and merge into the beveled outerk edges as clearly shown in Figure 1. The blades have their inner edges disposed hush with the 'juncture of 85 the upper and lower portions 2 and 3, with respect to each other, and while I have shown the means for securing the cutting blades to the lower portion as being rivets having rounded heads, it will be apparent that any well known means may be employed for that purpose, such as bolt and nut connections and the like.

A very important feature of the present invention is the scraper blade which is indicated by the reference numeral 6 and has formed therewith 95 aligned flanges 7 arranged at right angles to the blade proper as best shown in- Figure 3. The flanges 7 are provided with openings adapted to be aligned with like openings formed in the upper portion 2 for the purpose of receiving suit- 100 able securing means 8 for rlXedly associating the scraper blade 6 to the body, and as the anges 7 are disposed in contacting engagement with the upper portion 2, the blade proper and the lower portion are substantially aligned, with theresult the body l and scraper blade 6 of my tool present a substantial T-shape in cross section formation as will be noted upon inspection of Figures 5 and 6.

The scraper blade 6 is provided with an elon- 110 gated recess 9 formed midway its ends and which in fact provides the flanges 7, and this recess has disposed in communication therewith a recess 10 that extends upwardly into the scraper blade proper and terminates in rounded formation for a purpose which will be presently apparent. While the outer edge of the scraper blade 6 may be sharpened, the primary function of this blade is for the purpose of scraping spreading fire or burning material back into the burning mass or inflammable matter away from the same, with the result it is not shown as being beveled or sharpened, but is made from material that may be readily sharpened if desired. The corners of the scraper blade may be rounded as shown and the outer corners oi the upper portion 2 may be cut away as illustrated in Figure 4.

The blade 6 also performs a function as a shield, as it will be obvious that when the cutting blades are used as a rake, the blade 6 will have a tendency to prevent burning material, sparks and the like from coming in contact with the raked material.

The handle socket for the form of the invention so far described is indicated by the reference numeral 11, and it will be noted that I have illustrated the handle socket as being tapered, and it may be threaded to threadedly receive the threaded end of a handle for securing the latter in the socket, or I may employ a bolt and nut connection for that purpose, but in any event the socket is hollow throughout its length and has both ends open, while disposed adjacent the small or outer end thereof and extending transversely through the major portion of the socket is a slot 12 for the purpose of accommodating the edges of the rounded portion of the recess 10, while the recess registers with the bore of the handle socket so that the handle (not shown) can extend through the recess 10.

The socket is formed with diametrically opposed openings for the purpose of receiving a pin (not shown) so that the handle can be lixedly associated with the socket as will be apparent, and formed with the forward portion of the handle socket is a web 13 that in turn has formed therewith a clamping plate 14, the latter being provided with tongues formed with the longitudinal edges thereof and the plate is passed through the recess 10 and receives the upper portion 2 of the body, in a manner whereby one of the tongues which is indicated by the reference numeral 15 is disposed in engagement with the outer face of the lower portion 3 of the body while the other tongue which is indicated by the reference numeral 16 is bent about the longitudinal edge of the upper portion 2, as clearly shown in Figures 5 and 6. The clamping plate is of size to snugly iit within the recess 10 and has its outer edges arranged in contacting engagement with the confronting edges of the flanges 7, and the clamping plate is iixed to the upper portion 2 through the instrumentality of rivets or other like securing means 17, with the result it will be obvious that the scraper blade 6 is not only rigidly xed with respect to the cutting blade carrying body, but the handle socket is likewise xed thereto, and by providing the slot 12 in the handle socket to accommodate the scraper blade 6, the handle socket and scraper blade cooperate for materially reinforcing each other, therefore a strong and rigid structure is provided and which is very essential in a tool of this character.

In Figures 9, 10 and 11, I have illustrated the cutter blade carrying body or bar, the scraper blade, and the handle socket cast in a single unit, and for distinction the scraper blade is indicated by the reference numeral 18, the lower portion of the body by the reference numeral 19, and the upper portion which is disposed at right angles with respect to the scraper blade and lower portion by the reference numeral 20. The upper portion 20 has formed therewith a web 21 that is likewise formed with a handle socket 22 and scraper blade 18 and the handle socket in this form or" the invention is likewise hollow throughout its length and has its ends open, with the outer open end extending through the scraper blade so that the handle (not shown) can pass completely through the handle socket and extend through the scraper blade which is formed with the handle socket. The lower portion 19 is provided with notches 23, and it is of course apparent that cutting blades such as indicated by the reference numeral 5 can be secured to the lower portion in the same manner as above set forth and clearly shown in Figure 1.

in Figures l2 and 13, I have disclosed a body provided with a lower portion 26 which has its outer edge beveled as at 27, and it will be noted that the cutting blades which are indicated by the reference numeral 28 have the meeting portions of their cutting edges arranged in alignment with the outer edge of the lower portion 26.

By this construction, it will be apparent that a clean cut can be accomplished by the tool as the body portion will not effect the cutting operation. Again, the lower portion may not be beveled or notched, and in this event the meeting portions of the cutting edges of the blades will be arranged outwardly beyond the outer edge of the lower portion so as to prevent the edge of the lower portion from effecting a clean cut. In the form clearly shown in Figure 1, it will be seen that I provide notches in the lower portion so as to accomplish a clean cut.

From the above description and disclosure of the drawings, it will be obvious that I have provided a tool which is extremely eiiicient for use in fighting brush, grass and forest iires, and while the cutting blades may be utilized for any desired purpose, they are extremely useful for cutting vines, brush and the like to clear the ground of burnable material, and of course the cutting blades can be utilized for digging trenches or otherwise cleaning the ground. By associating the scraper blade 6 with the remaining portion of the device, I have provided a tool that is capable of performing all the necessary functions in iightfires of the character set forth, as the scraper" blade makes it possible to keep the fire under control by scraping or pushing the spreading fire back into the burning mass or otherwise cleaning the ground surface.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that I may make changes in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a lire lighting tool, a body including portions disposed at right angles with respect to each other to provide upper and lower portions, said lower portion having a straight beveled outer lower edge, cutting blades secured to the lower portion and being provided with inclined beveled side edges and straight beveled outer edges, the

cutting blades being arranged in row formation and engaging each other, and the meeting portions of the inclined beveled edges terminating in points flush with the lower edge of the bevel of the lower portion.

2. In a rire ghting tool including cutting blades, a body including an upper and a lower portion disposed at right angles with respect to each other, said lower portion having the cutting blades secured to and depending therefrom, a shield in the orm of a blade co-extensive with the length of the body and secured to and rising from the upper portion substantially in alignment with the cutting blades.

3. In a fire ghting tool including cutting blades, a body having the cutting blades secured thereto and depending therefrom, a shield in the form of a blade secured to and rising from said body in substantial alignment with the cutting blades, and a handle socket having connection with the body and shield respectively.

4. In a i'lre ghting tool including cutting blades, a body having the cutting blades secured thereto and depending therefrom, a shield in the form of a blade secured to and rising from the body and being recessed, a handle socket extending through the recess and being slotted to receive the shield to brace the latter and means for securing the socket to the body.

5. In a re fighting tool including cutting blades, a body having the blades secured thereto and depending therefrom, a shield in the form of a blade secured to and rising from said body, and a handle socket having connection with the body, and with the shield at a point remote from the securing means for the shield and body and forming a brace for the shield.

6. In a re fighting tool including cutting blades, a body having the blades secured thereto and depending therefrom, a shield in the form of a blade secured to and rising from the body and having a recess with a curved portion, a handle socket extending through the recess and being slotted to receive the edge of the recess about the curved portion thereof to brace the shieldand means for securing the socket to the body.

CHARLES H. RICH. 

